Physics course catalog
2025-26 catalog
MIKE AUGSPURGER, Assistant Professor
B.S., Rhodes College; Ph.D., University of Iowa
JUSTIN BANKERT, Assistant Professor
B.S., Purdue University; Ph.D., Physics, Johns Hopkins University
LEE CARKNER, Professor
B.S., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Ph.D., Pennsylvania State
JOSHUA DYER, Associate Professor
B.S., University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; Ph.D., Michigan State
NATHAN H. FRANK, Professor
B.A., Concordia College; Ph.D., Michigan State
JACKIE OPFER, Assistant Professor
B.S., University of California, Berkeley; M.S., Ph.D., University of Minnesota
WILLIAM PETERSON, Professional Faculty Instructor and Associate Professor
B.S., Ph.D., University of Iowa
JAMES VAN HOWE, Professor
B.A., University of Chicago; Ph.D., Cornell
JOSÉ WILCHES, Professional Faculty and Assistant Professor of Physics, Engineering, and Astronomy
B.S., Civil Engineering, Corporación Universitaria Rafael Núñez, Columbia; Ph.D., Structural Engineering, Pontificia Universadad Católica de Chile, Chile; Ph.D., Structural Engineering, Virginia Tech
Major in Physics
42 credits, including PHYS 200, PHYS 211, PHYS 212, PHYS 213, PHYS 366, PHYS 368 (or PHYS 367 and PHYS 421), 12 elective PHYS credits at the 300-400 level, and 10 credits of MATH-160, MATH-220, and MATH-260. CHEM 131 is recommended as a supporting course. Students may NOT major in both Engineering-Physics and Physics.
Major in Teaching Physics
27-28 credits, including PHYS-211, PHYS-212, PHYS-213, PHYS-339, PHYS-366, and PHYS-399 (Directed Study with focus on Embedded Tutoring) and two of the following: PHYS-300, PHYS-313, PHYS-360, or a combination of PHYS-399 (Directed Study with focus on Course Development) and PHYS-400. See the Director of Secondary Education for more details. 100-level courses do not count toward the major. Required supporting courses (36 credits): ASTR-135 or ASTR-145; BIOL-130 and BIOL-140; CHEM-131 and CHEM-132; GEOL-101 and GEOG-105; MATH-160,and MATH-260.
Minor in Physics
16 credits, including 211, 212, 213, 366, and 368
Grade Point Average Notation: All courses listed in the catalog as required courses for any major and/or minor, including those courses outside of the department or with a different subject coding, are considered part of the major and will count in the grade point average. Some departments may have additional grade requirements for the courses offered within their department. Recommended supporting courses that are optional and not required may also count in the major depending on the program. For more information see your department chair or the degree requirements for Bachelor of Arts and information on Majors/Minors.